Scottish Government licences Seal killing

In a classic situation of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing, the Scottish Government has commissioned research showing the Wildlife Tourism in Scotland is worth ~£65million but has also licensed the shooting of seals (~1300) by Salmon Farms.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/n...l-killings.html

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/L...g/SealLicensing

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2010/06/16110712

If anyone is prepared to do so I'd suggest writing (or emailing) the Scottish Government and I would suggest that you state that whilst this situation exists you will not buy any Scottish salmon products unless the retailer is prepared to confirm that their Scottish salmon source does not participate in shooting seals.

Seems the Scottish Government keep on doing things that are not correct. You only have to go back a year and the release of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi. Says it all.

Stew

Un bloody real

Dive safe

DeanB

In a classic situation of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing, the Scottish Government has commissioned research showing the Wildlife Tourism in Scotland is worth ~£65million but has also licensed the shooting of seals (~1300) by Salmon Farms.

 

http://www.thesun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/n...l-killings.html

 

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/L...g/SealLicensing

 

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2010/06/16110712

 

If anyone is prepared to do so I'd suggest writing (or emailing) the Scottish Government and I would suggest that you state that whilst this situation exists you will not buy any Scottish salmon products unless the retailer is prepared to confirm that their Scottish salmon source does not participate in shooting seals.

Thanks for posting this, Paul.

Yep, I'll try and do something. I am happy to do wot the Sun says and abstain from buying Scottish salmon (as I don't eat fish). I have friends who work in the salmon industry in Scotland and I will try and dig up whether there is another side to this story.

Alex

Is this new? Admittedly I've not had time to read the links (got to get to work), but Salmon farmers have been shooting seals for many years. I think there was always a clause that they could if the Salmon were 'endangered' by the seals (or something like that). Either way it is very sad news.

Cheers, Simon

Is this new?

Well these licences are apparently issued under "Part 6 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 which came into force on 31 January 2011. It seeks to balance seal conservation with sustainable fisheries and aquaculture and its introduction means:

* It will be an offence to kill or injure a seal except under licence or for welfare reasons, outlawing unregulated seal shooting that was permitted under previous legislation

* A number of seal conservation areas around Scotland will begin to be introduced, designed to protect vulnerable, declining common seal populations

* A new seal licensing system, providing a well regulated and monitored context for seal management in Scotland will be introduced"

And there are other methods of keeping seals out of Salmon Farms such as double netting but these are more expensive than shooting. I'm always worried when I see phrases like 'well regulated' because of course there is rarely any money put into enforcement and most things are expected to self-regulate. killing seals is supposed only to be used as the last resort but given the number of licenses issued it would appear that there are a lot of rogue seals out there. Given that there have been moves in the past by the Scottish Parliament to introduce the idea of needing air guns to require certification it seems utterly bizarre that shooting at sea is an acceptable practice. A classic illustration of the illogical governmental thinking that us Brits have all come to know and love so well.

On 31 January 2011, Part 6 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 comes into force.

Part 6 seeks to balance seal conservation with sustainable fisheries and aquaculture and its introduction means:

* It will be an offence to kill or injure a seal except under licence or for welfare reasons, outlawing unregulated seal shooting that was permitted under previous legislation

* A number of seal conservation areas around Scotland will begin to be introduced, designed to protect vulnerable, declining common seal populations

* A new seal licensing system, providing a well regulated and monitored context for seal management in Scotland will be introduced

What do you think? It looks like an improvement over the current "turn a blind eye" system, but, of course, could also be taken as carte blanche to blaze away at seals outside of the conservation areas...

Just don't wear a black hood if diving in a loch with salmon farms!